Fiber handling arrangement and process



May 21, 1963 N. E. KLEIN FIBER HANDLING ARRANGEMENT AND PROCESS v N V 1 Km t m K Y & 2 w ..R m w M o n M T mm .H m A. 2 N m 2 M Y ,w i m F Filed March 6, 1961 y 1, 1963 N. E. KLEIN 3,090,081

FIBER HANDLING ARRANGEMENT AND PROCESS Filed March 6, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. I27 NORMAN E. KLEIN na-s- Patented May 21, 1963 This invention relates to textile fiber handling apparatus, and more particularly to an improved staple fiber handling roll and roll arrangement which serves to exert a compacting action on a mass of staple fibers preparatory to forming the fibers into a yarn or the like.

In the handling of linear masses of staple fibers, such as webs, sliver, roving, and the like, it is often desirable to compact the fiber mass from all lateral sides in a direction transverse to the longitudinal extent of the linear mass. This is particularly true in the drafting of masses or staple fibers, but is also applicable in areas of handling of such masses, as for instance in the handling and compacting of webs of fibers from a carding machine and the formation of sliver therefrom. It is a feature of this invention to provide a novel fiber handling roll or the like which affords a novel and advantageous lateral compacting of a progressing fiber mass, particularly a web, sliver, or roving, or the like.

A further feature lies in the novel employment of a unique drafting system employing a novel fiber compacting roll or the like.

Still a further feature lies in the employment of a fiber mass contacting surface which serves to exert a lateral camming and compacting force on the fiber mass by mechanical intercontact and relative motion between the fiber mass and cam surfaces formed on the fiber contacting surface. As a further feature the fiber mass is brought into and held in contact with the camming surface through the medium of air pressure exerted on the fiber mass in a novel manner.

Still another important feature of the invention resides in the straightening of leading hooks which normally occur in various masses of staple fibers, including carded sliver, roving, etc. This straightening action is particularly notable when employing the invention in a manner in which drafting occurs on the fibers while in engagement with the novel roll surface.

Still other advantages which accrue from the preferred embodiment of the invention include less fiy and higher possible velocities of fiber flow.

Still other features and attendant advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following description of several physical embodiments constructed according to the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic view in perspective of a drafting arrangement constructed according to the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a schematic line drawing showing the general path of the fibers through the drafting arrangement of FIGURE 1, as viewed from one end of the drafting rolls.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary illustration of the surface of the chevron roll of FIGURES l and 2.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged and more detailed partially cutaway view of two side-by-side chevron rolls as such may be employed in an arrangement according to FIG- URES 1 and 2.

FIGURE 5 is a partial cutaway view of the stationary suction conduit or shoe which extends into the cavity formed in the chevron roll.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary view of a roll incorporating a modified preferred chevron surface configuration.

FIGURE 7 is a further fragmentary flat plan projection of a portion of the chevron configuration of the preferred roll of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a section view taken along line 83 of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is a section view taken along line 9-9 of FIGURE 7.

Referring now to the figures of the drawing, in the illustrative example a linear mass of staple fibers in the form of roving 11 is fed from a supply source (not shown) through a guide trumpet 13 to a drafting arrangement 15. The drafting arrangement 15 is schematically illustrated for purposes of simplicity of explanation, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that conventional refinements, such as aprons, clearers, etc., may be added thereto, if desired.

In the illustrated drafting arrangement 1S as shown, three sets of drafting rolls are provided, back rolls 17, 19, middle rolls 21, 23, and front rolls 25, 27. As is conventional practice, at least one of each of these sets of rolls is driven, and each succeeding set of rolls is as usual driven at a faster peripheral rate than the preceding rolls in order to give the desired degree of drafting of the fibers in the zones between the respective pairs of rolls. The fiber mass is twisted as it leaves the nip N of the front pair of rolls 25, 27 by the twisting action of a twisting and take-up device, which in this illustrative embodiment takes the form of a conventional ring-and-traveler twister take-up 29 onto which the drafted and twisted fiber mass is then taken up as yarn Y.

In a drafting arrangement incorporating the present invention at least one, and preferably the lower front one 27, of the drafting rolls is formed in a novel manner and serves to impart a unique and highly advantageous lateral compacting action on the fiber mass as this mass passes over its peripheral surface. This novel compacting force is preferably a combination of both pneumatic compacting action and mechanical camming compacting action. In the embodiment as illustrated in FIGURES 1-5, the novel roll 27 is formed with a plurality of chevron shaped recesses 31 formed in its circumferential periphery. These chevron shaped recesses 31 preferably have their apices 31a lying substantially in a common imaginary plane extending perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the roll 27 The converging trailing edge surfaces 310 of the legs 31b of each of the chevron shaped recesses 31 form elfective converging cam surfaces which exert lateral compacting forces on the progressing mass of fibers as a function of differential movement between the fiber mass 11 and the peripheral surface of the roll 27. Thus, it will be seen that, inasmuch as the linear speed of the roll is greater than the linear speed of the fiber mass leaving the middle rolls and approaching the roll, by bringing the fibers into contact with the peripheral surface of the roll 27 in advance of the nip N there will be exerted opposed lateral compacting forces on the fiber mass 11 engaging the chevron recesses 31, which lateral compacting forces will tend to compact the mass toward the imaginary plane in which the apices 31a of the chevrons 31 lie.

In order to aid in the compacting of the fiber mass, as well as the provision of a more gentle interfiber plucking action on the fibers approaching the roll and the affording of higher processing speeds, and the better holding of the fibers in engagement with the chevron zone on the roll surface over a desired angular extent thereof for best camming action on the fibers, the roll has a cavity 27a formed therein which is connected to a plurality, and preferably all, of the chevron shaped recesses 31 formed on the peripheral surface of the roll 2'7. In the illustrative embodiment of FIGURES 1-6 all of the chevron shaped recesses 31 are in full air flow connection with the cavity 27a by simple extension of the recesses 31 through the roll body to the cavity 27a. Thus, the V chevron recesses 31 form generally V-shaped apertures or air conduits, as shown more particularly in FIGURES 3 and 4.

A negative pressure (relative to the surrounding atmospheric pressure) is applied to the cavity 27a in the Zone preceding, including, and subsequent to the nipN of the front rolls 25, 27. This negative pressure may be applied as by a stationary conduit 33 connected to a suitable vacuum source, such as the suction side of a blower 36. The conduit 33 terminates within the cavity in the form of a stationary shoe 35 having an open convex mouth 35a which substantially conforms to the internal radius of curvature of the generally cylindrical cavity 27a. The open convex mouth is disposed in registry with the line of chevron shaped recesses and is remova bly held in this position as by a fixed support 37 on the spinning or other fiber processing frame. A filter 39 may be disposed in the conduit between the open convex mouth 35a and the vacuum source 35, if desired.

While such is not a necessity for the basic operation of the invention it may be desirable to employ an external surface vacuum scavenging system adjacent a portion of the external periphery of the roll away from the open convex mouth 35a area in order to scavenge from the surface of roll 27 any fibers which may inadvertently remain on the roll 27 after the compacted fiber strand leaves the roll. For this purpose a hollow tube 41 having a small width slot 41a formed therein may be connected to the vacuum source 35, or other suitable vacuum source, as desired, the slot 41a being disposed beneath the lower peripheral surface of the roll 27.

At least one of each of the pairs of drafting rolls is suitably driven from a drive source 43 through a suitable mechanical drive connection 45, such as a gear train or cog belt drive of desired speed ratio proportions. As seen in the illustration of FIGURE 4, the drive to the chevron roll may be through a cog belt 45a and a cog wheel 45!; centrally disposed on a common shaft 275 between two adjacent fiber handling positions, which in the present instance would be two adjacent spinning positions. The common shaft 27b may have formed on its opposite ends the respective two chevron surfaced rolls 27 for two side-by-side spinning positions or the like, and may be rotatably mounted in suitable bearings 47. The two suction conduits 33 may extend into the respective chevron rolls 27 through their opposite open ends.

In the operation of the illustrative embodiment of FIGURES 15, the linear mass of staple fibers is passed through the forming trumpet 13 and drafting assembly 15 to the ring-and-traveler twister take-up 29. The chev- Ion roll 27 exerts a sucking action on the mass of fibers 11 in the zone immediately preceding, including and subsequent to the nip N. This sucking action is effective to exert compacting forces on the fiber mass transverse to its direction of travel, thereby tending to compact the fiber cmass against the roll surface and to hold the fiber mass on the roll surface in the zone of the chevron recesses 31 which overlie the open convex mouth 35:! of the suction conduit shoe 35. The chevron roll 27 is also traveling at a peripheral rate in excess of the mass of fibers 11 approaching this roll from the middle pair of rolls 21, 23, and accordingly there is relative linear motion between the chevron roll surface and the fibers lying on the surface of the chevron roll 27 in the zone preceding the nip N. In this zone the roll 27 is traveling faster than a substantial number of the fibers lying thereon, and substantial drafting takes place in this zone. Additionally, and of considerable importance, as a result of this relative motion between the chevron recessed roll surface and the fibers lying on the opposite sides of the apices 31a of the chevron recesses 31 are camrned toward the center line lying along the apices 31a. Thus, there is both a pneumatic compacting in a radial direction as well as a mechanical camming com pacting action on the mass of fibers in opposite trans verse directions extending along the surface of the roll. It will be noted that this compacting action takes place during the drafting of the fiber mass. As a further point, it will be noted that the converging ridges 270 which are effectively formed on the roll surface between the chevron shaped recesses serve in effect as smooth supporting converging rails on which the fibers may easily move under the influence of the mechanical camrning resulting from the relative longitudinal movement between the fibers and the roll surface and the sucking action exerted on the fibers through the recesses.

In addition to the better compacting of the fiber mass by the sucking and camming action exerted on the fibers by the chevron roll 27, this sucking and camming action immediately preceding the nip N tends to effect a straightening of the fibers, particularly a straightening of the leading hooks which normally occur in various masses of staple fibers, including carded sliver, roving, etc. This is a unique and important function of this invention, particularly as applied in a drafting arrangement, for the straightening of such leading hooks on the fibers is of considerable importance in the forming of higher quality yarn.

The drafted and straightened fibers in the compacted mass are then nipped in sequence in respect to their respective ordered linear position in the fiber group as such fibers successively approach and reach the nip N. The mass of fibers leaving the nip N is twisted by the twisting action of the ring-and-traveler take-up 29 and proceeds in the form of yarn Y or other desired strandular product to the take-up bobbin B. While a twister takeup is disclosed for illustrative purposes, it will be apparent that a non-twist imparting takeup might be employed as desired for the formation and handling of a particular other mass product or intermediate product.

As added advantages of the present invention, particularly as such applies to its application in drafting systems, the suction action in the vicinity of the nip N tends to reduce the amount of lint -fiy formed as a result of the normally substantial drafting action which takes place between the middle and front pairs of rolls. Also, as an important result of the partial vacuum that exists in the approach areas to the nip N of the rolls the fibers appreaching the nip N do not tend to spread out laterally as they approach the nip as they do in conventional drafting arrangements at high speeds due to the normal positive pressure air pocket and consequent laterally outward air movement in the nip approach region. On the contrary, the partial vacuum in the approach area to the nip N enables the fibers to come into, and maintain, closer lateral relationship under the compacting action exerted thereon by the air stream entering the chevron recesses and the mechanical camming action of the converging trailing walls 310 of the recesses 31.

A further advantage lies in the scavenging action which the apertured chevron roll 27 exerts on the adjacent top roll 25 of the front roll pair, thus tending further to reduce any necessity for clearing or cleaning of this top roll 25.

In FIGURES 6-9 there is shown a modified chevron recess configuration for a chevron roll 127. This is the preferred embodiment of chevron roll according to the invention. In this embodiment the chevron configurations 131 are, as in FIGURES 1-5, formed with their apices lying in a common plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the roll and being formed about the entire circumferential periphery of the roll. For purposes of simplicity of illustration only, a portion of the roll surface is shown in FIGURES 6 and 7, the remaining circumferential portion of the circumferential periphery of the roll 127 being readily apparent from this fragmentary illustration.

In this embodiment each of the chevron recesses 131 is formed with an air aperture 131a at the apex thereof, this aperture extending through the roll body from the outer circumferential periphery into fluid communication with the inner cylindrical cavity 127a for pneumatic registration with an air suction shoe 35 similarly to the embodiment of FIGURES 1-5. However, the air communication apertures 131a do not extend over the entire area of the respective chevron recesses 131 as in the first described embodiment of FIGURES 1-5, but are confined to a zone at and adjacent the apices of the respective chevron recesses 131. The converging legs 13112 of each of the respective chevron or V-shaped recesses 131 are tapered, preferably in both surface width and depth from a relatively narrow and shallow outer end 131d to a substantially width and deeper apex-adjoining end 131 as seen more particularly in FIGURES 7 and 8. Preferably, the tapered recess of each leg is formed with a relatively steep angled trailing wall 131g and a more gently inclined leading wall 131i, the upper edge of the trailing wall 131g serving as the major cam surface while the more gentle slope of the leading wall 131i enables the fibers to bend downwardly into the recess 131 for camming action thereagainst by the trailing wall 131g as a function of relative motion of the fibers past the trailing wall. Additionally, it will be noted that the fiber mass lying over the zone of the tapered chevrons 131 of this embodiment effects in conjunction with the roll surface a plurality of effectively air conduits extending along the converging tapered legs 131b of each of the chevron recesses, which recess conduits connect with their respective apex aperture 131a. Thus, there is exerted on the fiber mass and the fibers therein an additional compacting force by the -fiow action of the air through and along these converging recess conduits formed by the chevron recesses 131 and the fiber mass passing thereover. The smaller cross section of the outer ends 131d of these recesses 131 will cause a greater air fiow rate therethrough in this zone than in the greater cross sectional zone of the recesses nearer to the apices or center line of the chevrons. The modified chevron roll 127 of FIGURES 6-9 may be employed in the same manner as the chevron roll 27 of FIGURES 1-5, with improved fiber mass compacting action being effected as generally discussed above.

While the invention has been described with reference to two embodiments constructed in accordance therewith, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and improvements may be made with out departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. For instance, various chevron surface configurations may be employed on the chevron roll, and the chevron roll may be employed in other positions of a drafting system, if desired. Also, while the chevron roll presently finds its most advantageous employment in a drafting system, such may also be employed alone or in other arrangements, such as in carding frames, for laterally compacting a web of fibers. Accordingly, it will be understood that the invention is not to be limited by these illustrative and preferred embodiments, but only by the scope of the appended claims.

That which is claimed is:

1. Textile fiber handling apparatus comprising a member having an endless peripheral surface on which is formed a zone of undulating general-1y chevron shaped configuration, said member having an internal cavity formed therein, and a plurality of spaced apertures connecting between said cavity and said surface along the apex zone of said chevron shaped surface configuration, and means for connecting said internal cavity to a source of negative fiuid pressure relative to ambient pressure surrounding said member.

2. Textile fiber handling apparatus comprising a roll having a generally chevron shaped series of alternate recesses and ridges formed in its outer circumferential periphery, said rol-l having an internal cavity, at least a portion of said recesses extending through the periphery of said roll and into common fluid connection therethrough with said cavity, and means for connecting said cavity with a source of negative fiuid pressure relative to ambient pressure surrounding said roll.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said recesses are V-shaped and in fluid communication with said cavity at their apices, which apices are in substantial circumferential alignment.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said fiuid communication between said recesses and said cavity is confined to the Zone at the apices of said recesses.

5. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein at least a portion of said recesses are V-shaped and have two legs increasing in surface width and depth from its outer end toward its apex end and in fluid communication with said cavity through a bore formed in said roll at the apex of said recess.

6. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said recesses are in communication with said cavity by way of extension of substantially the entirety of each of said recesses through said roll and into communication with said cavity.

7. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said means for connecting includes fluid conduit means operatively connected to said cavity.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said conduit means extends into said cavity and has an opening adjacent a portion of the circumferential roofing wall of said cavity and in fluid communication with a portion of said recesses.

9. The method of handling a mass of staple fibers comprising advancing said mass in a generally linear fashion and exerting a compacting camming force on said mass by engaging said mass of fibers with a cam surface extending obliquely to the general linear path of movement of said mass and between which mass and cam surface there is relative linear motion along the direction of the general linear path of movement of said mass in the zone of said contact, said cam surface extending obliquely to said general linear path along two converging directions, maintaining the general linear path of movement of said mass in the zone of convergence of said two converging cam surface directions, and exerting a pneumatic compacting force on said mass .of fibers during at least a portion of their contact with said cam surface.

10. The method according to claim 9 wherein said pneumatic compacting force is exerted both toward said cam surface and laterally along said surface.

11. The method according to claim 10 wherein said pneumatic compacting force is effected by passage of air through said mass of fibers and said cam surface and in directions toward and along said surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 709,694 Bietenholz Sept. 23, 1902 984,195 Cooper Feb. 14, 1911 1,347,714 Rowley July 27, 1920 2,387,091 Rooney Oct. 16, 1945 2,430,611 Gwathney et al Nov. 11, 1947 2,602,195 Liebowitz July 8, 1952 2,659,936 Sandelin Nov. 24, 1953 2,788,969 Binder Apr. 16, 1957 2,897,549 Paterson Aug. 4, 1959 

1. TEXTILE FIBER HANDLING APPARATUS COMPRISING A MEMBER HAVING AN ENDLESS PERIPHERAL SURFACE ON WHICH IS FORMED A ZONE OF UNDULATING GENERALLY CHEVRON SHAPED CONFIGURATION, SAID MEMBER HAVING AN INTERNAL CAVITY FORMED THEREIN, AND A PLURALITY OF SPACED APERTURES CONNECTING BETWEEN SAID CAVITY AND SAID SURFACE ALONG THE APEX ZONE OF SAID CHEVRON SHAPED SURFACE CONFIGURATION, AND MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID INTERNAL CAVITY TO A SOURCE OF NEGATIVE FLUID PRESSURE RELATIVE TO AMBIENT PRESSURE SURROUNDING SAID MEMBER. 